Stand up straight to avoid text neck

Trying to maintain good posture can be difficult in the age of smart phones. (Source: WECT)

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) -

Dr. Eric McGraw from Active Care Chiropractic in Wilmington wants to help people avoid text neck.

McGraw spoke with WECT's Ashlea Kosikowski during Thursday's First at Four newscast about ways to improve posture during a time when many of us spend 2-to-4 hours each day looking down at our cell phones. That is 700 to 1,400 hours per year.

Tilting your head a mere 15 degrees puts 27 pounds of pressure on your spine and may lead to early wear, tear, degeneration and possibly surgeries.

Standing tall doesn't just make you look better, it optimizes your health, too. Studies have found good posture elevates testosterone and serotonin in the body, and also reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Bad posture has been linked to a host of medical problems, including headaches and other neurological issues, depression, constipation, and heart disease. At a minimum, constant slouching is likely to cause chronic pain.

While it is nearly impossible to avoid looking at our screens, people should make an effort to look at their phones with a neutral spine and avoid spending hours each day hunched over.